I could see that matters were in anything but a happy state at the Halletts'--Mrs Hallett being more complaining and querulous than ever, and, it seemed to me, rather disposed to side with Linny in her rebellion against her brother's authority. For they were not at one: Linny was pale, excitable, and troubled: Hallett, loving, kind, and firm. But from hints he let drop, I found that Linny was as obstinate as ever, and that she was still carrying on a correspondence with her unknown admirer. One night, after leaving Great George Street, I made my way to Hallett's, but he was out, and Linny assured me that he would not be back for hours. She evidently wanted me to go, and the reason was plain--she was busy writing a letter; and as I went away, wondering where to go, I bethought me of Mr Jabez Rowle, who lodged in the neighbourhood, and as it would be his time for being home, I determined to go and see him. I easily found his lodgings, at a little grocer's shop in a bystreet, where he had the first floor, the front window being turned into quite a garden with flowers, and some scarlet-runners twining up strings on either side. I heard the familiar snap of his snuff-box as I tapped at the door, and in reply to his "Come in," I entered, to find the old gentleman taking his leisure by poring over a long slip, and, pen in hand, darting in corrections with a grunt of satisfaction. "Ah, young Grace," he cried, "you here! I thought you were lost. Glad to see you, boy. Here, sit down--no, stand up; catch hold of that bit of manuscript, and read it to me--only a dozen sides." And to my great astonishment I found myself reading away to him in the old style for quite half-an-hour before he reached the bottom of the slip proofs and laid his pen down with a satisfied grunt and took a pinch of snuff. "Quite a treat, Grace--quite a treat," he cried. "Sit down. I haven't had a bit of copy read to me like that since you left. Boy I've got's a fool, and I could knock his head against the wall. Shake hands. How are you?" I replied that I was quite well, and could see that he was. "No, I'm not," he said tartly. "Much bothered. Money matters?" and he took another pinch of snuff. "So you've called to ask me to say a word for you to come back to the office, eh? Well, I'm glad, boy--I'm glad! Take it as settled. You can come back to-morrow morning! I will have you, or I'll know the reason why." I stared at him aghast. "Oh no, Mr Rowle," I said, "I only came to see you. I thought I should like to. I'm getting on so well."